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THE TWELFTH 2009 - BANGOR

The sun shone on marchers on Monday 13th July as Orangemen and women and bands made their way through the streets of Bangor to mark the 319th anniversary of the Battle of the Boyne.

Orange brethren from the Newtownards, Holywood and Upper Ards joined host District Bangor at one of the 18 orange demonstration to take place this year. Bangor was chosen as one three 'Flagship Twelfths' and the coastal town basked in early afternoon sunshine on the way to the demonstration field at Valentines.

As ever large crowds of spectators lined the routes, many for more than an hour before the parade was due to pass. They enjoyed the music and colour of the 30 accompanying bands and the pageantry of the North Irish Dragoons, a living history group dressed in authentic uniform of the period, who led the parade along with King William on horseback.

Once in the field, weary marchers were free to take a deserved rest or sample some of the traditional 12th day ice cream. The Orange Order displayed its religious traditions also with public speeches and prayers. Guest of honour on the platform was Grand Lodge Secretary Bro. Drew Nelson.

The return from the field was not so favoured by the weather, but still the crowds turned out as marchers made their way once again through the Bangor town centre and back to the fleets of buses. Newtownards Lodges had one more leg of the journey to complete once back in Ards - the parade to the usual finishing point in Conway Square.

District officers and standards	the banner of LOL 1363
Brethren from LOL 1948	LOL 1973's banner